Deep inside our cells, genetic information, encoded in DNA, is coiled into bundles wrapped around proteins. These tidy parcels of genetic material are called chromosomes. At the tips of our chromosomes are protective structures called telomeres – acting much like the plastic bits at the ends of shoelaces.But telomeres don’t work forever. As we grow older, our telomeres get shorter. If they are too short, they can no longer protect our genetic information. Shortened telomeres are linked to aging and various diseases, including cancer.